Several inches of snow fell since we packed it last week, last couple of days have been warm, followed by warm temps yesterday and a hard rain last night. Froze hard overnight, conditions were very unskiable when we got there this morning.
Spent most of the day with the leveler compaction drags. We were able to get most of the main trails quite smooth given the conditions. It is still pre-season so we are just packing everything and not setting any tracks. There will be ruts, soft spots etc. due to the snow pack conditions so be aware and careful.
Best not to rush right out in the morning, before 10:00 a.m. it will be quite firm and icy, best skiing will be around mid-day, by then it will be getting soft.
Conditions for Skating are excellent, we worked hard on the Timber Trail and several others to get them as flat and smooth as we could. Some trails like Lost Trail View and Vista View are good but not quite as smooth, we stayed off of most of the Broadway trail due to ash and smoke from the slash piles, snow is quite dirty around the cabin right now. Cabin is not open yet, will be open starting Dec 1st.
After Dec. 1st. Chief Joe will not be open to dogs or walking on the trails but you can ski with your dog now, just please clean up after them so we don’t smear it all over the trail with the grooming equipment. Andersen Mountain and all of the multi use trails will be open all winter for your pups! Tony
December 2017 Meeting
The December meeting will be held on December 14, this is our annual Potluck meeting, so bring a dish to share! Potluck starts at 6 and the meeting starts at 7. Everyone welcome.
Kate Davis Educator, Photographer, Author, Artist, Speaker and founder of Raptors of the Rockies will be presenting. Presentation includes live birds!
Ski season has begun!
The trails received the first grooming of the season. All of the main trails, but not the lower trails or the multi use trails, were snowmobile groomed today, and all have complete snow coverage, but are still pretty soft. Timber trail received more grooming passes than the rest of the trails and will likely be firm enough for skate skiing tomorrow.
The USFS was burning slash piles left over from last years logging along Broadway today, and they will likely be smoking though the weekend. There is ash on some parts of broadway, so if your on good skis, you may want to avoid broadway until it snows again.
Reminder: The Gordon Reese Cabin is not yet open for the season, so don’t plan on going inside to warm up. But the porch is still a great place to eat lunch.
The trails received the first grooming of the season. All of the main trails, but not the lower trails or the multi use trails, were snowmobile groomed today, and all have complete snow coverage, but are still pretty soft. Timber trail received more grooming passes than the rest of the trails and will likely be firm enough for skate skiing tomorrow.
The USFS was burning slash piles left over from last years logging along Broadway today, and they will likely be smoking though the weekend. There is ash on some parts of broadway, so if your on good skis, you may want to avoid broadway until it snows again.
Reminder: The Gordon Reese Cabin is not yet open for the season, so don’t plan on going inside to warm up. But the porch is still a great place to eat lunch.
Pile burning along the trails
Starting this week, and through the end of November the forest service will be burning slash piles left over from last years logging project along some of the trails. For more information see this press release from the forest service.
November 2017 meeting minutes
November 2017 Board meeting and general meeting minutes.
Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski Club
Board Meeting
Meeting Date: Thursday, November 9, 2017
Call to Order: 6:15
In Attendance: Norman Singley, President; Michael Hoyt, Past President; Reine Hilton, Treasurer; Marrea Mathews, Secretary; Richard Stone, Lessons; Earl Phillips, Membership; Tony Neaves, Annie Crighton, Grooming; Karla Schiever
Membership: Earl Phillips reported membership is 73 membership with 99 members, he reviewed procedures purging members who have not kept up their contact information- 2 years for members, 1 year for businesses. Earl needs to turn the membership office over to someone else by next year. He is seeking someone to train.
Finances: Reine Hilton stated the balance in savings and checking combined is $40,195, that includes the RTP Grant of $26,000, arrangements are being made to switch from our account from the Riverside Conoco Station to Lone Pine Conoco for ease of access to the groomers.
Grooming: Tony reported we may get an earlier start this year, since it’s hunting season, the grooming may begin after these rains. He is working on checking out the snow machines and needs the owners manuals to the Arctic Cat and Scatic. There is concern with the age and condition of the truck and trailer. Tony is going to check out the brakes and will report back.
The bench and the sign in boxes need repair.
Grants: Mike reported that during the season names, phone numbers, dates that the groomers are on the snow machines are needed for the volunteer hours.
Out-house grant- Another year extension was granted to the forest service on installing the out house. Hopefully, it will be installed next year.
RTP Grant- it looks like purchasing equipment with RTP Grant is difficult. This in not a problem for now.
President: Norm met with the forest service. The fs wants to make sure everything is by the book, proper documentation and permissions granted first. They were concerned about the trees that were cut in the last trail maintenance. Norm sent them a letter asking what needs to be done. So far there has been no response. Another concern is the donation boxes. It needs to impart the donations are going to the club for grooming and maintenance, not the forest service.
Signage needs to be accurate and proactive to prevent conflicts with other users. Gibbons Pass Road may be confusing. Hopefully, a new gate will be installed at the far end of Broadway to keep it closed during the non-snow season to automobile traffic.
The slash piles will be burned in the next couple of weeks, hopefully. Tony was concerned the roads would be torn up with machinery. The burn crew may be sent in on foot.
Jesse Crocker asked to serve the club as vice president as well as keep up the web site.
A sawer training class is needed. We may partner with backcountry horsemen. Earl mentioned the fs is moving to certifying trainers.
Maps: They are late but they are coming along.
The meeting adjourned at 7pm
Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski Club
General Meeting
Meeting Date: November 9, 2017
Call to order: 7:00pm
Membership: Earl Phillips announced this will be his last year handling membership. A replacement is sought. Membership is going well- 73 membership with 99 members, he reviewed procedures purging members who have not kept up their contact information- 2 years for members, 1 year for businesses
Youth Ski Lessons: Richard Stone passed around the sign up sheet. He also ask that we bring used ski equipment to the next meeting for donation to the Salmon group.
Treasurer: Reine Hilton stated the balance in savings and checking combined $40,195, that includes the RTP Grant of $26,000.
Grooming Report: Tony reported the snow is ahead of this time last year. With it still being hunting season and the warmer weather, they will hold off on grooming until the snow settles. Dec. 1 is the start of the contract.
President’s Report: The floor was installed in the hut and looks great, the turn out for trail maintenance was excellent, a lot was accomplished, Bill Sweet improved the ski rack, the fs rangers in Wisdom are new, the trail map will be coming out soon, those who help with distribution will be contacted shortly, the program coordinator position needs filling, should anyone know of potential presenters, contact Norm for now, December meeting is potluck- dinner 6pm, meeting 7pm, Kate Davis of Raptors of the Rockies will present.
Program: Mark Witherington presented his trip on the Loowit Trail which circumambulates Mount Saint Helens, 30 miles. Part of the stratovolcano devastated the mountain 37 years ago, because of this, the trail is very interesting with part passing through old-growth, wild flowers, waterfalls, views of other volcanic peaks, glaciers, and the rebuilt section is post apocalyptic rubble, no permit needed, no camping in the recovering stretche.
The meeting adjourned: 8:00pm
November 2017 Newsletter
November 2017 Meeting
It’s that time of year again! The weather is getting colder, snow is starting to show up on the mountains, and it’s time for the first meeting of the season.
The meeting will be on November 9, at 7pm, at the Presbyterian Church, 1220 West Main Street, Hamilton, MT.
Speaker to be announced soon.
Trail maintenance day, Saturday September 23
Of course with our valleys full of smoke it’s hard to think too much about skiing, but rest assured the snow will come. We have been checking out the trails at Chief Joseph lately and there is some trail work and maintenance to be done before the season.
Bill Sweet is taking charge of this project and is planning a trail work and maintenance day for September 23, 2017. We will be removing some downed trees, and also taking down some trees that obstruct the grooming. We could use at least 3 “sawyers” and several more volunteers to move the cut logs and branches out of the way.
We also need to do some work on the emergency caches, as their support structures are starting to fail. Bill will be working on that in the next couple weeks, but we might have to wrap up that work on the 9th as well.
In addition, we’re looking at upgrading the ski rack at the cabin to make it higher – to accommodate skis even as the snow piles up. So, we have quite a few projects penciled in for the 23rd. Please let us know if you can make it and we will discuss timing and potential carpooling.
Grooming finished for the season
There is still plenty of snow on the ground, but we have concluded grooming for the season. See you next winter!
April 2017 Newsletter
